Systems and devices for blood pressure measurement

Abstract

Systems and devices for performing hemodynamic measurements are provided. A blood pressure cuff can have a fixed tubular shape. The blood pressure cuff can include an inflatable bladder and a housing with an inflation chamber formed in between the inflatable bladder and housing. The blood pressure cuff is configured to fit onto an extremity of an individual. The inflatable bladder can include angled segments to help secure the blood pressure cuff to the extremity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blood pressure cuff for use in a blood pressure measurement system, comprising:
 a housing and an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder in connection with the housing such that an inflation chamber is formed in between the inflatable bladder and the housing, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises an elastomeric molded material in a tubular shape, and wherein the housing is fixed in a tubular shape;   wherein the inflatable bladder is contoured to conform to an extremity of an individual;   wherein the inflatable bladder comprises an inner contact sheet having a tubular shape, a set of angled segments, and two tubular edges; and   wherein each angled segment is in between the inner contact sheet and one of the tubular edges of the inflatable bladder.   
     
     
         2 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 1 , wherein each angled segment has an angle, density and a thickness for providing a push force, and wherein the thickness of each angled segment is greater than the thickness of the inner contact sheet. 
     
     
         3 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a vertex is formed between a face of each angled segment and a face of the inner contact sheet, and wherein each vertex independently has an angle between 90 degrees and 150 degrees; and/or   each angled segment has a tapered thickness such that the thickness proximal to the tubular edge is greater than the thickness proximal to the inner contact sheet.   
     
     
         4 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 1 , wherein the inner contact sheet is flexible and has a thickness between 25 μm and 100 μm such that it can expand and contract in accordance with inflation and deflation of the inflation chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable bladder is a single molded material comprising the inner contact sheet and the set of angled segments. 
     
     
         6 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable bladder is a welded set of components comprising the inner contact sheet and the set of angled segments. 
     
     
         7 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 1 , further comprising a set of two end caps, wherein the inflatable bladder further comprises a flap at each tubular end, and wherein the set of two end caps is utilized to secure the inflatable bladder to the housing via each flap. 
     
     
         8 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a set of two folded-over ends that each fold over an edge of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer frame secured to the inflatable bladder, wherein the inflation chamber is further formed between the outer frame and the inflatable bladder, and wherein the outer frame and the inflatable bladder are configured to be removably installed within the housing such that the housing can be reused after use and removal of the inflatable bladder. 
     
     
         10 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a set of one or more furrows along at least one vertex between the inner contact sheet and an angled segment of the set of angled segments. 
     
     
         11 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizer within the inflation chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 11 , wherein the stabilizer is a sponge or foam fill, and wherein the sponge or foam fill has a density gradient in which the sponge or foam fill has greater density near the angled segments of the inflatable bladder and less density near the center of the inflatable bladder. 
     
     
         13 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 11 , wherein the stabilizer is a set of one or more springs, wherein each spring of the set of one or more springs is a clover-shaped ring that contacts and is secured to the housing at multiple points, wherein each clover-shaped ring contacts or is adjacent to the inflatable bladder at multiple points, wherein each clover-shaped ring includes an interconnecting portion between each contact with the housing and each contact or adjacency with the inflatable bladder, and wherein each interconnecting portion includes a first hinge near the contact with the housing and a second hinge near the contact or adjacency with the inflatable bladder. 
     
     
         14 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 11 , wherein the stabilizer is a set of one or more springs, wherein each spring of the set of one or more springs is an elongated ribbon that is elongated in a direction along a tubular axis of the blood pressure cuff, wherein each elongated ribbon includes a secured end that is secured to the housing, an unsecured end that is free to move in a direction along the tubular axis, and a curved portion between the secured end and the unsecured end, and wherein an apex of the curved portion is in contact with or adjacent to the inflatable bladder. 
     
     
         15 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 11 , wherein the stabilizer is a set of one or more columnar supports, wherein each columnar support of the set of one or more columnar supports is in contact with a vertex adjacent to an angled segment of the set of angled segments and further in contact with and secured to the housing, and wherein the set of one or more columnar supports and the inflatable bladder are a single mold. 
     
     
         16 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor system comprising a light emitter and a light sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor system is a photoplethysmograph. 
     
     
         18 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor system is within the inflation chamber and the inflatable bladder contains a translucent window to allow light to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         19 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor system is within the inflation chamber and the inflatable bladder is translucent to allow light to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         20 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor system is on the inner contact sheet of the inflatable bladder.